A number of top women tennis players of the world including world no. 14 Anastasia Myskina of Russia and Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza would feature in the USD 170,000 WTA Sunfeast Open, 2005 to be held here on September 19-25.

Announcing this here today, tournament director Jaidip Mukherjea said altogether 23 players from 18 countries have confirmed their participation in Sunfeast Open, the biggest prize money tournament in South Asia this year.

Besides Myskina and world no. 48 Sania, the other top draws would be world no. 17 Karolina Sprem of Croatia, popular Thai star Tamarine Tanasugarn and Japan's Rika Fujiwara.

Backed by some impressive performances, India's another rising talent Shikha Uberoi has also made it to the main draw.

The tournament, being organised by tennis ace Mahesh Bhpathi's Globosport India, would be played at the renovated Netaji Indoor stadium.

Mukherjea said apart from those in the main draw, three wild card entrants for the tournament would be announced before the start of the qualifying rounds on September 18.

He said the tournament committee was trying to bring another top player but refused to divulge the name.

Speaking on the occasion, West Bengal Sports Minister Subhas Chakraborty said the tournament, supported by the state government to put the name of the metropolis in the map of world tennis, would become an annual event. Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya would inaugurate the tournament on August 19 while Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has expressed his desire to be present on the final day, he said.

AjdeNate!

Aug 21st, 2005, 09:03 PM

Seven WTA top 100 players to feature in Sunfeast main draw
Kolkata, Aug 21 (UNI) Seven women tennis stars from top 100, including Sania Mirza are vying for top honours in the Sunfeast WTA Open, 2005 here later next month.

The Tournament Committee today announced here that the main draw of the dollar 170,000 prize money competition will feature some of the leading names in world tennis including Anastasia Myskina, Sania Mirza, Antonella Serra Zanetti and Laura Pous Tio.

The qualifying round of the tournament, to be held in the remodelled Netaji Indoor stadium here, begins from September 17, while the main round will be held from September 19 to 25.

Tournament Director Jaidip Mukherjea said, "The 170,000 dollar Sunfeast Open 2005, Kolkata, will feature an impressive roster of international stars, including Russian sensation World No 14 Anastasia Myskina, India's very own World No 50 Sania Mirza, the rising Croatia star, World No 78 Karolina Sprem and the popular Thai star Tamarine Tanasugarn, to name a few." "Other well-known players include Italian Antonella Serra Zanetti, Laura Pous Tio from Spain and Japan's Rika Fujiwara.

India's another rising talent Shikha Uberoi has also made it to the main draw," he said.

"Apart from those in the main draw, three wild card entrants for the tournament would be announced in due course of time," he added.

"The three wild cards would be decided after seeing the list. If some well known players want to enter the competition they may be given a wild card, otherwise Indian players would be preferred," Bharath Prasad AVP Event Operations of tournament organisers Globosports, said.